The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire an Associate Policy Analyst to conduct research and analysis related to development of the region’s next long range, comprehensive plan. CMAP is our region’s official comprehensive planning organization. The agency and its partners are developing ON TO 2050, a new comprehensive regional plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information, and details regarding benefits are at www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers#benefits.

Position Description
The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate a broad base of knowledge about the interactions between infrastructure, land use, public policy, and overall regional economic development. This position will contribute to development of ON TO 2050 and assist in other policy development. CMAP also provides insight into the health of the region’s economy through a set of indicators, and this position will contribute to ongoing analysis related to these economic metrics. Tasks will include collecting and analyzing data, managing research, producing reports and issuing briefs, monitoring and providing agency direction on federal, state and local public policy, and communicating and coordinating with the agency’s partners.

Previous work in this area has focused on bolstering the region’s economic advantages by nurturing its industry clusters. Recent research has focused on the challenges and opportunities facing the region’s traded industry clusters, understanding its role in national and regional supply chains, and refining CMAP’s understanding of strategies to bolster regional economic resilience.

Across these projects and tasks, the policy analyst will be expected to emphasize the recommendations of GO TO 2040 and the refinements identified for ON TO 2050. The ideal candidate will also have significant strengths in public policy, ability to apply basic principles of microeconomics, and familiarity with regional economic development. Preference will be given to those who possess strong technical skills with strengths in managing research and collecting and analyzing data, and an interest in the complex challenges addressed by long range planning.

Responsibilities
• Collect and analyze data on the regional economy, including a focus on regional industry clusters, transportation infrastructure, and economic indicators. The applicant should have strong quantitative skills and a creative approach to problem solving.
• Write reports and issue briefs that explain data trends and their potential impact on changes in federal, state, or local public policy.
• Assist policy development related to ON TO 2050, including exploration of the concept of economic resilience.
• Write CMAP Policy Updates, memos, and other materials that explain data trends and the potential impacts or changes in federal, state, or local public policy.
• Manage or support agency projects that analyze economic, transportation, infrastructure, tax policy and other relevant public policy issues facing northeastern Illinois, while identifying regional scale challenges and opportunities.
• Present work to relevant CMAP committees and participate in regional groups, where appropriate.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Demonstrated understanding of and/or interest in the complex connections between transportation, development, public policy, and the metropolitan economy.
• Ability to apply microeconomic theory and empirical evidence toward practical purposes.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to communicate effectively on issues of public policy and planning.
• Excellent data management skills and the ability to manipulate and analyze large data sources in spreadsheets and databases, as well as the ability to generate findings from these data and present results.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects and produce reports and issue briefs that are factual, original, compelling, and persuasive.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to complement existing projects via independent or team-based work.

Education and Experience
A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Economics, Public Administration or a related field is preferred. Two to four years of prior work experience in a related field is required for the Associate level. Ability to work effectively in an environment using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office products, with adaptability to other software. Demonstrated skills with microcomputer databases, spreadsheets, and Arc/GIS geographic information systems.

How to Apply
Please submit cover letter and résumé via the web at www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers. Please refer to Job Code (APA1016).

Posting End Date
This posting will close on November 5, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. CST. All applications must be completed and submitted within this timeframe.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire a full-time employee to contribute to the agency’s Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program. CMAP was created in 2005 to integrate planning for land use and transportation in the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. CMAP is our region’s official comprehensive planning organization. The agency and its partners are developing ON TO 2050, a new comprehensive regional plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information. For detailed information about our benefits, please go to http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers#benefits.

Position Description
This position is expected to contribute primarily to the LTA program. The LTA program was initiated in spring 2011 to create innovative local projects in the Chicago region that support livability principles, implement GO TO 2040, and build capacity in local communities. Over 130 projects have been completed to date, with 50 more underway, including comprehensive plans, corridor or subarea plans, zoning revisions, studies of special topics such as housing, stormwater management, or economic development, and similar planning activities. To obtain more information on the LTA program, please visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/lta.

In particular, CMAP is seeking candidates with interest in outreach and public engagement. The ideal candidate will have training as an urban planner but also demonstrate a deep commitment to engaging the public in the planning process.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Familiarity with the purpose, scope, and practice of regional planning.
• Knowledge of or familiarity with local planning practice in northeastern Illinois, including plan and ordinance preparation, and the role of appointed and elected officials.
• Understanding of the links between transportation, land use, housing, economic development, community development, environment and natural resources, and governance.
• Ability to contribute to complex projects and to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and across departments.
• Ability to conduct trainings and workshops and develop methods to elicit ideas and concerns from stakeholders.
• Interest in identifying and utilizing best practices and innovative practices in outreach tools and methods to support public engagement.
• Experience or interest in working with elected officials, government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners in designing and implementing policies and strategies.
• Interest and ability to interact with partner agencies, local governments, and the general public.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Education and/or Experience
A Bachelor’s degree in planning or a related discipline is required, and a Master’s degree is preferred.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire an Associate Policy Analyst to conduct research and analysis related to development of the region’s next long range, comprehensive plan. CMAP is our region’s official comprehensive planning organization. The agency and its partners are developing ON TO 2050, a new comprehensive regional plan to help the seven counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois implement strategies that address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other quality-of-life issues. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information, and details regarding benefits are at www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers#benefits.

Position Description
The Associate Policy Analyst will conduct research and analysis related to development of ON TO 2050, which is the successor to GO TO 2040, and will substantially build on its recommendations, address limited new policy areas, and provide more specific guidance for implementers. Generally, ON TO 2050 will maintain a focus on planning for the interconnected nature of transportation, land use, and housing. This position will assist with or be responsible for research and analysis regarding areas such as emerging state and federal transportation regulations, asset management, demographic trends, developing indicators to measure progress on inclusive growth, identifying strategies to promote reinvestment in disinvested areas, and/or assisting with scenario planning. This position may also contribute to a portion of ON TO 2050 or freight plan work to aid existing conditions analysis or assist policy development. Tasks will include collecting and analyzing data, managing research, producing reports and issuing briefs, monitoring and providing agency direction on federal, state and local public policy, and communicating and coordinating with the agency’s partners.

Across these projects and tasks, the policy analyst will be expected to emphasize the recommendations of GO TO 2040 and the refinements identified for ON TO 2050. The ideal candidate will have knowledge of transportation and land use policy at the national and regional level, strengths in managing research and collecting and analyzing data, and an interest in long range planning. Final tasks will be somewhat tailored to the successful applicant’s areas of expertise. The candidate should have significant strengths in one or more of the described focus areas and demonstrate a broad base of knowledge about the interactions between infrastructure, land use, and public policy, and overall regional economic development.

Responsibilities
• Collect and analyze data on demographic, land use, transportation, and other regional trends. The applicant should have strong quantitative skills, and a creative approach to problem solving.
• Conduct research and analysis of topics such as asset management, the relationship between land use and transportation investment, promoting environmental justice in transportation planning, intermodal policy, and planning practices at peer MPOs.
• Write CMAP Policy Updates, memos, and other materials that explain data trends and the potential impacts or changes in federal, state, or local public policy.
• Manage or support agency projects that analyze and report on the transportation, land use, and economic issues facing northeastern Illinois and identify challenges and opportunities with transportation, public policy, infrastructure, and technology.
• Present work to relevant CMAP committees and participate in regional groups on these issues as they affect metropolitan Chicago.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to communicate effectively on issues of public policy and planning.
• Excellent data management skills and the ability to manipulate and analyze large data sources in spreadsheets, databases, and geographic information systems (GIS), as well as the ability to generate findings from these data and present results.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects and produce reports and issue briefs that are factual, original, compelling, and persuasive.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to complement existing projects via independent or team-based work.
• A demonstrated knowledge of transportation and land use issues and the role they play metropolitan policy. Knowledge of and connections with regional experts in policy and planning.
• An ability to apply theory and empirical evidence toward practical purposes, and a demonstrated interest in the complex connections between transportation, development, and the metropolitan economy.
• Familiarity with the governance structure of northeastern Illinois.

Education and Experience
A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Planning, Economics, Public Administration or a related field is required. Two to five years prior work experience in a related field is strongly preferred. Ability to work effectively in an environment using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office products, with adaptability to other software. Demonstrated skills with microcomputer databases, spreadsheets, and Arc/GIS geographic information systems.

How to Apply
Please submit cover letter and résumé via the web at www.cmap.illinois.gov/about/careers. Please refer to Job Code (APAO50).

Posting End Date
This posting will close on November 18, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. CST. All applications must be completed and submitted within that timeframe.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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